Newark man changes unstable lifestyle to be closer with his son, with help of Holiday Fund

Jim, 34, never knew his father and his mother died when he was young. He was bounced around between foster homes and was repeatedly abused sexually and physically.

He had no motivation in school and dropped out when he was 16. At 18, when he aged out of the foster system, he could barely read or write and had nowhere to go. He spent the next 10 years in jail and at girlfriends’ houses, concerned only with collecting enough money to get high.

When one of his girlfriends became pregnant, Jim made the decision to change his life. The baby went to live with Jim’s girlfriend’s grandmother, where Jim would visit his son. The grandmother sent him to FAMILYConnections, where he entered a drug rehab program. Though he still struggles with depression and anxiety, he is able to spend more and more time with his son, who is now 5. He takes his son to church and is proud to be in the child’s life.

He is employed for the first time in his life, and saved his paycheck for holiday presents for his son.

Thanks to donations from the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, Jim and his son were equipped to spend a happy holiday together.

Urban League of Essex County

Sandy, now 30, became a young mother of two children at age 18 and 20. Her own mother was verbally abusive, so Sandy left home at a young age and dropped out of school. She later regretted not getting her diploma, but had no time as a single mother with two young children to care for.

Recently, she decided to get her diploma. She turned to the Urban League of Essex County and enrolled in a GED class.

After months of studying and working hard, she took the exam to become a police officer.

The Urban League of Essex County receives financial assistance from the Greater Newark Holiday Fund.